Overview

Philip M. Berkowitz is the U. S. practice co-chair of Littler's International Employment Law Practice Group and co-chair of the Financial Services Industry Group. He advises multinational and domestic companies in a wide range of industries on employment-related matters. He has significant experience advising multinational companies regarding U. S. and overseas employment and executive compensation practices. He represents employers in individual and class action lawsuits and arbitrations, and he appears in U. S. federal and state courts and before administrative agencies and international arbitration tribunals.   

Philip handles all regulatory facets of employment law, including:

  • Compliance with equal employment and other statutes governing the workplace
  • Employee benefits
  • Executive compensation
  • Employment agreements
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Trade secrets
  • Non-compete agreements

His diverse selection of clients includes companies in financial services, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, publishing, and fundraising.

A respected authority on international employment law issues, Philip conducts training worldwide on labor and employment matters. He is a frequent speaker before the American Bar Association, the International Bar Association, the Japan Society and other prominent international organizations. Philip is the founding chair of the Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) Annual International Employment Law Conference.

Philip previously worked as a partner and head of international employment law at a full-service international law firm.

Professional & Community Affiliations

Vice Chair

International Employment Law Committee, International Law Section

American Bar Association

Vice Chair

Employment Law Committee, International Law Section

American Bar Association

Vice Chair

Diversity and Equality Law Committee

International Bar Association

Officer

Diversity and Equality Law Committee

International Bar Association

Former Chair

International Law Practice Section

New York State Bar Association

Founding Chair

International Employment Law Committee

New York State Bar Association

Member, Corporate Advisory Council

Japan Society

Member, Counsels' Council

Pro Bono Legal Advisory Committee

Lincoln Center

Member

Legal Counsel Committee

China General Chamber of Commerce

Recognition

Awarded, AV® Peer Review Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2007-2025

Recipient, BTI Client Service All-Star Award

2022-2024

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2006-2013, 2017-2024

Global Elite Thought Leader, Labour & Employment

Who's Who Legal

2024

Named, International Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers

Who's Who Legal

2012-2016

Named, Who's Who in American Law

2014

Named, Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers

Who's Who Legal

2011

Books & Book Chapters

  • Handbook on International Employment Law, American Bar Association, Co-Authors: Thomas Mueller-Bonanni, Anders Etgen Reitz, 2008
  • International Labor and Employment Law, International Corporate Practice: A Practitioner’s Guide to Global Success, Practising Law Institute, Chapter 21, Chapter Co-Authors: Stefan Marculewicz, Joseph Lazazzero, Trent Sutton, and Philip Gordon, 2012

Education

  • J.D., Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, 1978
  • B.A., State University of New York at New Paltz, 1975

Bar Admission

New York

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York